Shoe bottom pressing machine



May 9, 1939.

K. ENGEL ET AL SHOE BOTTOM PRESS ING MACHINE Filed 001:. 22, 1957 4Sheets-Sheet l N/EA/TUHE May 9, 1939. K. ENGEL ET AL snoz BOTTOMPRESSING MACHINE Filed Oct. 22, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A/l/EN raw-e5 m ig a5 4 Sheets-Shet 4 K. ENGEL ET AL SHOE BOTTOM PRESSING MACHINE FiledOct. 22, 1957 v N Z rlliil m w. m mmm I Patented May 9, 1939 UNHEDSTATES PATENT @FFECE SHOE BOTTOM PRESSING MACHINE ration of New JerseyApplication October 22, 1937, Serial No. 170,432

1'7 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for press:- ing the bottoms of shoes,and in some aspects more particularly to means for applying pressure andheat to the lasted margin of an. upper overlying an insole preparatoryto the application of an outsole to the shoe. The invention is hereinillustrated by reference to the manufacture of shoes in which the upperalong the sides of the forepart and around the toe end is secured inlasted position by an adhesive, although it is to be understood that theinvention is not thus limited in its applicability.

For the purposes in View, the invention provides a novel constructionand arrangement of means for applying pressure to the marginal portionof an upper extending inwardly over an insole in substantially parallelrelation to the shoe bottom, the construction shown comprising a devicehaving different shoe pressing members arranged to engage the lastedmargin of the upper all around the forepart of a shoe, the differentpressing members being heated and being also shaped to conformsubstantially to the contour of the bottom of the shoe both lengthwiseand widthwise of the shoe to adapt them to receive a shoe placed thereonbottom downward. As herein illustrated, the shoe pressing memberscomprise plates of flexible resilient metal arranged to engage thelasted margin of the upper along the opposite sides of the forepart andan end plate of resilient metal slidingly mounted on the side plates andarranged to engage the lasted margin of the upper at the toe end, themetal plates being arranged to bend and conform themselves more closelyto the contour of the shoe in response to pressure of the shoe uponthem. For controlling the metal plates so as to apply firm pressure tothe shoe there are provided, in ac cordance with a further feature, aplurality of blocks for backing-up the metal plates, the blocks beingarranged to adjust themselves in accordance with the contour of the shoeand then to support the metal plates against further bending in responseto pressure of the shoe on the plates. As further herein illustrated,the pressing device is movable in response to pressure of the shoethereon, and in accordance with another feature of the invention, thereis provided mechanism operative in response to the movement of thepressing device for moving the shoe pressing members inwardly over thebottom of the shoe in wiping engagement with the upper, this mechanism,as herein shown, comprising parts movable with the pressing device andother parts normally held against movement with the pressing device,

the last-named parts being adjustable relatively to the pressing deviceto Vary the initial positions of the shoe-pressing members toaccommodate shoes of different sizes. For pressing the shoe against thepressing device there is provided a toe rest arranged to engage the topof the forepart of the shoe and movable to force the shoe against thepressing device, and in order that the pressure of the shoe-pressingmembers on the upper will be progressively increased during their inwardmovements to insure that the lasted margin of the upper will be pressedsmoothly and evenly on the insole, spring means is provided against theincreasing resistance of which the pressing device is movable. As thepressing members move inwardly over the bottom of the shoe they tend todraw the upper more tightly inward over the insole, thus obviating anytendency for the upper to bulge at the edge of the insole, and in orderto render them more effective for this purpose, the pressing members forengaging the lasted margin of the upper along the opposite sides of theforepart have their upper-engaging faces provided with a plurality ofprojecting edges or burrs. Preferably also, and as herein shown, thereis provided means for locking the toe rest in position to maintain thepressure on the shoe as long as. desired after the shoe pressing membershave been moved inwardly over the bottom of the shoe.

The above and other features of the invention, including various noveldetails of construction and combinations of parts, will now be moreparticularly described by reference to the accompanying drawings andpointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a machine in which the inventionis embodied, with parts broken away and parts in section;

Fig. 2 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of the shoe-pressing meansand parts associated therewith;

Fig. 3 is a View partly in front elevation and partly in section of theshoe-pressing means and associated parts;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 3,

but illustrating the positions of the parts with a shoe under pressurein the machine;

Fig. 5 shows the shoe-pressing means partly in left-hand side elevationand partly in section, with the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section through a portion of the machineand a shoe, illustrating the positions of the parts before anysubstantial amount of pressure is applied to the shoe; and

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but illustrating the positions ofthe parts at the end of the pressing operation.

The illustrated machine comprises a base I0 (Fig. 1) for supporting acasting I2 which is bored to receive vertical rods I4 depending from aplate I6 on which is mounted a device for pressing or ironing the marginof the lasted up: per around the forepart of the shoe. The plate I6 issupported by springs I 8 which surround the rods I4 between the plateand shoulders; 20! formed within recesses 22 in the casting I2 and by aspring 24 which presses upwardly against the intermediate portion of theplate and at its lower end engages a shoulder 26 within a recess 28 inthe casting I2 (Fig. 5). Initially the springs I8 and 24 are underslight tension and act tohold the plate I 6 in spaced relation to thecasting I2 determined by the engagement of collarheaded screws 30 (Fig.2) with the upper surface 32 of the plate, the screws 36 extendingthrough the plate and being threaded into the casting I2.

The shoe bottom pressing and ironing device comprises a pair of flexibleresilient metal plates 34 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) which are shaped to conformsubstantially to the contour of the bottom of a shoe both lengthwise andwidthwise of the shoe and are arranged to engage the margin of thelasted forepart of the upper along the sides of the shoe, and a flexibleresilient metal plate 36 slidingly mounted on the side plates 34 andarranged to engage the margin of the lasted upper at the end of the toe(Figs. 2 and 5). The outer margin of each side plate 34 is clamped to aholder 38 (Figs. 3 and 4) having formed on its opposite ends trunnions40 connected by links 42 to links 44 that are pivotally connected tobosses 46 on a rectangular-shaped hollow casting 48 which is fastened tothe plate I6 by screws 50 (Fig. 5) and over which extend the ironingplates 34, 36, Each pair of links 42, 44 is pivotally connected togetherand to one link 52 of a toggle, the other link 54 of which toggle ispivotally connected at 56 to a bracket 58 secured to the plate I6 by ascrew 60. The links 52, 54 of each toggle are held normally innon-parallel relation, with a roll 62 carried by a downwardly extendingportion 64 on the link 54 in engagement with an adjustable abutment,illustrated as a short rod 66 extending upwardly through a recess 68 inthe plate I6, by means of a spring 10, one end of which is connected tothe link 54 and the other end of which is connected to a pin I2 in theplate I6 (Fig. 3). Each rod 66 is slidably mounted in a vertical bore I4(Fig. 1) in the casting I2 and threaded into the lower end portions ofthe rods 66 are adjustable screws I6 arranged to engage inclinedsurfaces 18 formed on a pair of parallel bars slidably mounted inhorizontal guideways in the casting I2. The bars 80 are connectedtogether by a cross piece 82 and extending through the cross piece is ascrew 84 threaded in the casting I2. Fast to the outer end of the screw84 is a small handwheel 86 for turning it, the screw being held againstendwise movement relative to the cross piece by means of a collar 88 onthe hand wheel and a collar 90 formed on the screw, the collars 88 and90 engaging opposite side faces of the cross piece. From the abovedescription it will be evident that by turning the screw 84 the flexibleplates 34 may be adjusted toward or from each other laterally of theshoe to vary their initial positions as may be necessary in operatingupon shoes of different sizes. To assist in sup-- porting and guidingthe holders 38 for movements toward or from each other laterally of theshoe, there is secured to each holder by a screw 92 a bar 94 the lowerend portion of which is provided with a substantially horizontal bore toreceive a shouldered screw 96 threaded into the plate I6.

In the illustrated construction, the end plate 36 for engaging themargin of the lasted upper at the toe end is arranged to overlie theside plates 34 and is secured by a clamp 98 to a holder I00 (Figs. 2 and5) pivotally connected to the upwardly extending arm I02 of a bell-cranklever I04 which is pivotally connected at I06 to a bracket I08 fastenedto the plate I6 by screws IIO (Fig. 2). The bell-crank lever I04 has apair of rearwardly extending arms I I2 which straddle an upwardlyextending rib II4 on the casting I2 and are arranged to engageadjustable abutments II6 one on each side of the rib H4. The holder I00has a rearwardly projecting portion H8, and engaging a shoulder within arecess I22 in the portion II8 of the holder is one end of a spring I24the opposite end of which engages a shoulder within a recess I28 in oneof the rearwardly extending arms I I2 of the bell-crank lever I04, thespring I24 acting to swing the bell-crank lever and the holder I00 inopposite directions to hold the arms II2 of the bell-crank lever inengagement with the abutments H6 and to press the plate 36 against theplates 34. Each abutment II6 has formed therein an elongated slot I30and extending through the slots I30 and a bore I32 in the rib H4 is abolt I34 for clamping the abutments in adjusted position. It will beevident that the initial position of the end plate 36 lengthwise of theshoe to accommodate shoes of different sizes may be varied by looseningthe bolt I34 and moving the abutments II6 heightwise of the shoe.

In the illustrated machine the shoe-pressing device is arranged toreceive a shoe placed initially thereon bottom downward, after which theshoe is forced downwardly to cause the pressing device to apply pressureto the bottom of the shoe by means of a toe rest I36 (Figs. 1 and 3)which is arranged to engage the top of the forepart of the shoe. The toerest comprises a felt pad I30 preferably molded to conform approximatelyto the lateral contour of the top of the forepart of the shoe. The padI38 is adhesively secured to a block I40 formed on the end of a post I42slidably mounted for movements toward and from the shoe-pressing devicein a bracket I43 secured by screws I44 to a crosshead I46 adjustablysecured to the upper ends of a pair of vertical bars I4? which areslidably mounted in guideways I48 (Fig. 2) in the casting I2. Threadedinto the post I42 is a rod I50 provided with a reduced end portion I52which extends through the crossbar I54 of an inverted substantiallyU-shaped bracket I56 fastened to the bracket I43 by screws I 58. Fast tothe upper end of the rod I50 is a handle I60 for turning the rod, therod being held against endwise movement relatively to the bracket I56 bythe handle I60 and a collar I 62' The vertical'bars I41 are connected attheir lower ends by a crosspiece I'II] to which there is pivotallyconnected one end of an adjustable rod I72 pivotally connected at itsopposite end to a treadle I14 fulcrumed at I16 to the frame I0. Thetreadle H4 is normally held in upraised position in engagement with astop I'I8 by springs I80, one on each side of the machine, each springbeing connected at its upper end to a pin I82 in the casting I2 and atits lower end to a pin I84 projecting from the end of the crosspieceI'Iil. For locking the treadle in depressed position there is provided aspringoperated latch I86 arranged to engage a finished surface I8! onthe treadle I I4. To release the treadle I74 for upward movement thereis provided an auxiliary treadle I88 pivotally connected to the treadleH4 and having a forwardly extending portion I90 arranged upon depressionof the auxiliary treadle to move the latch I86 against the resistance ofits operating spring out of eneagement with the treadle I14.

When the shoe is forced downwardly against the metal plates 34, 35, theplates bend and conform themselves more closely to the contour of thebottom of the shoe, and in order that more effective pressure will beapplied to the shoe by the plates 34, 36 there are arranged within arecess I92 (Fig. 2) in the hollow casting 48 a plurality of blocks I94for engaging those portions of the plates that extend inwardly over thebottom of the shoe. The blocks I94, illustrated as four in number, areconfined by the walls I95, I98 of the recess I92 and each block isprovided with a tapered recess 268 terminating in a semispherical seat202. Engaging this seat is the rounded upper end of a pin 204, theopposite rounded end of which engages a similarly shaped seat 2% in theplate 58. The pins 294 are held against excessive tipping movementrelatively to the plate It by small plates 2% fastened to the plate if)by screws 21s, each plate having formed therein a tapered hole 2 I2through which the pin 284 extends, the hole 2I2 being in alinement withthe seat 2653. The blocks I 94 are thus free to tip relatively to eachother and the plate I6 in directions both lengthwise and widthwise ofthe shoe to adjust themselves to the contour of the shoe bottom with theplates 34, 36, after which they act to support the plates againstfurther bending in the pressing operation. Preferably, the uppersurfaces of the blocks I94 are shaped to conform su "stantially to thecontours of those portions of the ironing plates 34 engaged by theblocks and preferably also the blocks are heated to maintain the ironingplates in a heated condition. For heating each block I94 there isprovided an electrical heating unit 2M which extends into the block andis connected by electrical conductors tie to any convenient source ofelectrical energy for heating the unit.

As previously pointed out, the plate IE on which the pressing or ironingunit is mounted is sup ported initially in spaced relation to thecasting I2 by springs 58 and 24. With the plate I6 thus upheld theholders 38 and the side plates 34 are held in their outermost positionsby the springs iii which act to hold the toggle links 52, 54 innon-parallel relation, the holder Iilfi and the end plate 35 being alsoheld in their outermost positions by the spring i24 which acts to holdthe arms H2 of the bell-crank lever I84 in engagement with the abutmentsI It. As thus positioned, the ironing plates 34, 38 are arranged toengage the overlasted marginal portion of the upper around the forepartof a shoe placed initially thereon bottom downward. It will beunderstood that before a shoe is presented to the machine the forepartof the shoe will have been previously lasted, the upper being preferablyfastened to the insole by an adhesive. If desired also the upperoverlying the insole may be moistened to assist in smoothing it freefrom wrinkles by the inwardly moving heated plates 34, 36 of themachine. With the shoe positioned properly on the plates 34, 36, theoperator depresses the treadle I74 to force the shoe, through the actionof the toe rest I85, against the plates. In response to the pressure ofthe shoe upon them, the plates 34, 36 are flexed to conform more closelyto the contour of the shoe bottom and the blocks I 94 tip relatively toeach other and to their supporting pins 244 until they have adjustedthemselves to the contour of the bottom of the shoe with the plates 34,36. Thereafter, in the continued downward movement of the treadle theplates 34, 36 are supported against further bending by the blocks I94and the pressing or ironing device is moved downwardly with the shoeagainst the resistance of the springs It and 24 until the plate I6engages an adjustable stop illustrated as a screw 2 It threaded into thecasting I2 (Fig. As the pressing or ironing device is depressed, thetoggle links 54 are swung into substantially parallel relation inresponse to the relative movement of the plate 55 and the rods 66, andthe bell-crank lever IE4 is swung in a clockwise direction (Fig. 5) bythe engagement of its arms H2 with the abutments I it. As the togglelinks 52, 54 are thus swung into parallel relation and the bell-cranklever Hi4 is swung in a clockwise direction the plates 34 and 36 areforced inwardly over the shoe bottom in wiping engagement with themarginal portion of the upper. It will be understood the downwardmovement of the pressing or ironing device occurs only after thepressure of the shoe upon the plates 3&- and 36 is great enough toovercome the resistance of the springs I8 and which are furthercompressed as the plates are moved inwardly over the bottom of the shoein wiping engagement with the upper. The margin of the upper around theforepart is therefore subjected to progressively increasing pressure andheat to flatten it upon the insole and to smooth it free from wrinkles.As the shoe-pressing members or plates 34, 36 move inwardly over thebottom of the shoe they tend to draw the upper around the entireforepart of the shoe inward over the insole, thus obviating any tendencyfor he upper to bulge at the edge of the insole in response to thepressure applied, and in order to render the plates 34 more effectivefor this purpose the upper engaging face of each plate 3 1i is providedwith a plurality of projec' ing edges or burrs 22E] formed by punchingholes 222 in the plate (Figs. 6 and 7). With the plate I6 in engagementwith the adjustable stop 21s, the toe rest is? and the bars Ml arelocked against upward movement by the engagement of the latch I85 withthe finished surface I88 on the treadle H4, to permit the shoe to besubjected to pressure and heat as long as desired without the necessityfor the operator to hold the treadle depressed. To release the shoe, theoperator depresses the auxiliary treadle I88, whereupon the bars l iland the toe rest I36 are moved upwardly by the springs I89, and thepressing or ironing device is moved upwardly by the springs 58 and untilthe plate it engages the screws As the pressing device moves upwardlythe springs act to swing the toggle links 52, 54

into non-parallel relation to move the plates 34 outwardly to theirinitial positions, the end plate 36 being moved outwardly to its initialposition by the action of the spring I24 on the bell-crank lever I04.

Having described the invention, what We claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes, a device for applyingpressure and heat to the bottom of the lasted forepart of a shoe beforean outsole is applied to the shoe, said device comprising diiferentheated shoe pressing members arranged to engage the lasted margin of theupper at the opposite sides of the shoe, means for pressing the shoeupon said device, said pressing device being movable rectilinearly inresponse to pressure of the shoe thereon, and means operative inresponse to such movement of the pressing device for imparting to saidshoepressing members movements inwardly over the bottom of the shoe inwiping engagement with the margin of the upper.

2. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes, a device for applyingpressure and heat to the bottom of the lasted forepart of a shoe beforean outsole is applied to the shoe, said device comprising heatedshoe-pressing members arranged to engage the lasted margin of the upperall around the forepart of the shoe, means for pressing the shoe uponsaid device, said pressing device being movable rectilinearly inresponse to pressure of the shoe thereon, mechanismoperative in responseto the movement of said device for moving said shoe-pressing membersinwardly over the bottom of the shoe in wiping engagement with themargin of the upper, and spring means engaging said rectilinearlymovable device for progressively increasing the pressure of saidshoe-pressing members on the upper during their inward movements.

3. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes, a device for applyingpressure to the bottom of the lasted fo-repart of a shoe before anoutsole is applied to the shoe, said device comprising shoe-pressingmembers for engaging the lasted margin of the upper all around theforepart of the shoe, a toe rest arranged to engage the top of theforepart of the shoe and movable to press the shoe against said device,said device being yieldingly movable in response to pressure of the shoethereon, mechanism operative in response to movement of the device formoving said shoe-pressing members inwardly over the bottom of the shoein wiping engagement with the margin of the upper, and means for lockingthe toe rest in position to maintain the pressure on the shoe after saidshoe-pressing members have been moved inwardly over the bottom of theshoe.

4. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes, a device for applyingpressure and heat to the bottom of a lasted shoe before an outsole isapplied to the shoe, said device comprising shoe-pressing membersarranged to engage the lasted margin of the upper at the opposite sidesof the shoe, means for pressing the shoe upon said device, said deviceas a whole being movable in response to pressure of the shoe thereon,and mechanism controlled by the movement of said device for imparting tosaid shoe-pressing members movements relatively to other portions of thedevice in directions to draw the upper inwardly over the bottom of theshoe, said shoepressing members having their upper engaging facesprovided with a plurality of projecting edges to render them moreeffective to tighten the upper inwardly over the edge of the shoebottom.

5. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes, a device for applyingpressure to the bottom of a lasted shoe before an outsole is applied tothe shoe, said device comprising shoe-pressing members for engaging thelasted margin of the upper at the opposite sides of the shoe, a toe restarranged to engage the top of the forepart of the shoe and movable topress the shoe against said members, a support for said shoe-pressingmembers movable with said toe rest in response to pressure of the shoeupon said members, spring means against the resistance of which thesupport is thus movable, and mechanism for moving said pressing membersinwardly over the bottom of the shoe relatively to said support inwiping engagement with the upper in response to the movement of saidsupport.

6. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes, a device for applyingpressure to the bottom of a lasted shoe before an outsole is applied tothe shoe, said device comprising shoe-pressing members arranged toengage the lasted margin of the upper along the opposite sides of theforepart and a pressing member for engaging the lasted margin of theupper at the toe end, a common support for said pressing membersyieldingly movable in response to pressure of the shoe on said members,mechanism operative in response to the movement of said support formoving said side-pressing members relatively to the support inwardlyover the bottom of the shoe, and additional mechanism operative inresponse to the movement of the support for moving the end-pressingmember inwardly over the bottom of the shoe with the side members.

7. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes, a device for applyingpressure to the bottom of a lasted shoe before an outsole is applied tothe shoe, said device comprising different shoe-pressing membersarranged to support a shoe presented by the operator bottom downward byengagement with the lasted margin of the upper along the sides of theforepart, means arranged to force the shoe against said pressingmembers, a support for said pressing members yieldingly movable inresponse to pressure of the shoe on said members, and mechanismoperative in response to the movement of said support for moving saidpressing members inwardly over the bottom of the shoe in wipingengagement with the upper, said mechanism comprising parts movable withsaid support and. cooperating parts normally held against movement withthe support, said last-named parts being movable relatively to thesupport to adjust the pressing members lengthwise and laterally of theshoe to accommodate shoes of different sizes.

8. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes, a device for applyingpressure to the bottom of a lasted shoe before an outsole is applied tothe shoe, said device comprising shoepressing members arranged to engagethe lasted margin of the upper along the opposite sides of the forepartof the shoe, a support for said pressing members movable heightwise ofthe shoe in response to pressure of the shoe on said pressing members,and means operated by such movement of the support for moving thepressing members toward each other laterally of the shoe, said meanscomprising different pairs of toggle links connecting said pressingmembers and the support and members normally held against movement withthe support for engaging and swinging said different pairs of togglelinks into substantially parallel relation.

9. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes, a device for applyingpressure to the bottom of a lasted shoe before an outsole is applied tothe shoe comprising shoe-pressing members arranged to engage the lastedmargin of the upper along the opposite sides of the forepart of theshoe, a support for said pressing members movable heightwise of the shoein response to pressure of the shoe on said pressing members, mechanismoperative in response to such movement of the support for moving thepressing members toward each other laterally of the shoe comprisingdifferent pairs of toggle links connecting said pressing members and thesupport and abutments normally held against movement with the supportfor swinging said toggle links in directions to impart to said pressingmembers their movements toward each other, and means for adjusting saidabutments relatively to said support to vary the initial positions ofsaid pressing members to accommodate shoes of different sizes.

10. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes, a device forapplying pressure and heat to the bottom of a lasted shoe before anoutsole is applied to the shoe, said device comprising heated plates offlexible resilient metal shaped to conform substantially to the contourof the bottom of a shoe and arranged to support a shoe placed thereonbottom downward by engagement with the lasted margin of the upper allaround the forepart of the shoe, means arranged to engage the top of theforepart of the shoe and movable to press the shoe against said metalplates, said device being movable in response to pressure of the shoe onsaid plates, said device including means conformable substantially tothe contour of the bottom of the shoe for supporting said metal platesagainst the pressure of the shoe upon them, and mechanism for forcingsaid metal plates inwardly over the bottom of the shoe relatively tosaid conformable means in wiping engagement with the upper in responseto the movement of the device.

11. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes, a device forapplying pressure and heat to the bottom of a lasted shoe before anoutsole is applied to the shoe, said device comprising heated plates offlexible resilient metal for engaging the lasted margin of the upperalong the opposite sides of the forepart and a plate of resilient metalslidingly mounted on said side plates for engaging the lasted margin ofthe upper at the toe end, said plates being flexibly conformable to thecontour of the bottom of a shoe in response to pressure of the shoethereon, a support for said plates, a plurality of blocks on saidsupport mounted to tip relatively to one another to adjust themselves inaccordance with the contour of the shoe with the plates and thereafterto increase the pressure of the plates on the shoe, means arranged toengage the top of the forepart of the shoe and movable to press the shoeagainst said plates, said support being yieldingly movable in responseto pressure of the shoe on said plates, and mechanism for moving saidside plates laterally of the shoe and the end plate lengthwise of theshoe in Wiping engagement with the upper in response to the movement ofsaid support.

12. In means for pressing the bottoms of shoes,

a pressing device comprising metal plates arranged to engage the bottomof a shoe at the opposite sides, said plates being flexibly conformableto the contour of the shoe in response to pressure of the shoe thereon,a plurality of blocks backing up said plates and mounted to tiprelatively to one another to adjust themselves in accordance with thecontour of the shoe and then to support the plates against pressure ofthe shoe upon them, and means for moving the plates relatively to theblocks inwardly over the bottom of the shoe.

13. A device for pressing the bottoms of shoes, said device comprisingmetal plates arranged to engage the bottom of a shoe at the oppositesides and flexibly conformable to the contour of the shoe in response topressure of the shoe thereon, and a plurality of blocks mounted to tiprelatively to one another to adjust themselves in accordance with thecontour of the bottom of the shoe with said plates and then to increasethe pressure of the plates on the shoe.

14. A device for pressing the bottoms of shoes, said device comprisingshoe-engaging plates arranged to engage the bottom of a shoe at theopposite sides, said plates being flexibly conformable to the contour ofthe bottom of the shoe in response to pressure of the shoe thereon andbeing mounted for movement inwardly over the bottom of the shoe, and aplurality of blocks backing up said plates and mounted to tip relativelyto one another to adjust themselves in accordance with the contour ofthe shoe and then to support said plates against pressure of the shoeupon them.

15. A device for pressing the bottoms of shoes, said device comprisingresilient shoe-engaging plates arranged to engage the bottom of a shoeat the opposite sides of the forepart and at the toe end, said platesbeing flexibly conformable to the contour of the shoe in response topressure of the shoe upon them and being mounted for movement inwardlyover the bottom of the shoe, and a plurality of blocks for backing upsaid plates, said blocks being mounted to tip in directions bothlengthwise and laterally of the shoe to adjust themselves in accordancewith the contour of the shoe and arranged then to support said platesagainst pressure of the shoe upon them.

16. A device for pressing the bottoms of shoes, said device comprisingmetal plates arranged to engage the bottom of a shoe at the oppositesides and at the end of the forepart, said plates being flexiblyconformable to the contour of the shoe in response to pressure of theshoe thereon, and a plurality of blocks backing up said metal plates,said blocks being curved to approximate the contour of the shoe bottomand being mounted to adjust themselves more closely to the contour ofthe shoe bottom and then to support the metal plates against pressure ofthe shoe upon them.

1'7. A device for pressing the bottoms of shoes, said device havingmetallic shoe-engaging plates at the opposite sides and at the end ofthe forepart, said plates being conformable to the contour of the bottomof the shoe and being also movable inwardly over the shoe bottom, aplurality of blocks backing up said metallic plates, said blocks beingmounted to tip in directions lengthwise and laterally of the shoe toadjust themselves in accordance with the contour of the shoe andarranged then to increase the pressure of the plates on the shoe duringtheir inward movements, and electrical heating means in each of saidblocks for heating them.

KARL ENGEL. CHARLES S. IQNNEY.

